Drug Enforcement Administration

Twenty-Two Federally Indicted For Conspiring To Distribute Methamphetamine And Marijuana

Alleged Distribution Occurred in the Twin Cities Area

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - A federal indictment unsealed on September 16, 2011 charged 22 individuals with conspiring to distribute large amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine in the Twin Cities. The indictment, which was filed on September 7, 2011, charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of methamphetamine and 100 kilograms of marijuana. The indictment was unsealed following the initial federal court appearances of 18 of the defendants, 16 of whom remain in federal custody. The defendants were arrested during the past week in California and Minnesota. Four indicted defendants are still at large.

The indictment filed in this case alleges that between January of 2010 and September of 2011, the defendants conspired with each other and others to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine. The drugs allegedly were delivered from California to Minnesota.

On September 3, 2011, Debra Doree, the wife of defendant Scott Wayne Doree, was fatally shot by a Minnesota State Trooper, when she attempted to flee a law enforcement stop in Oakdale. According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal (“BCA”), the trooper stopped Doree for a traffic violation on Interstate-94 at approximately 1:30 p.m. At the time, the trooper had information that Doree, a subject of an active multi-jurisdictional narcotics investigation, may be transporting drugs.

The BCA states that once she was stopped by the trooper, Doree agreed to sign a consent form, allowing the trooper to search her vehicle. As the trooper walked back to the law enforcement vehicle to retrieve the consent form, Doree drove off. The trooper ran after the car and became hung up on the passenger side door. Then, while being dragged about 200 feet down the freeway, the trooper fired his weapon, striking Doree. Medics transported Doree to Regions Hospital, where she later died.

BCA crime scene investigators found suspected narcotics in Doree’s car. The BCA lab has confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine in the amount of approximately 225 grams.

If convicted of the federal drug charges now filed against them, the defendants in this case face a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Drug Enforcement (DEA), the Minnesota State Patrol, the St. Paul Police Department, the Northwest Metro Drug Task Force, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven L. Schleicher.

The public is reminded that an indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offences have been committed by a defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.